Bottle-capping machine.



Ti L VALERIUS.

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHlNE.

APPLICATION HL'ED AUG-2,1911.

1,1%,158. v Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

7 SHEETS-SHEET l.

mmzmzmzmwg T. L VALEFHUSx BOTTLE CAPPlNG MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.2, 1911.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

T. .L. VALERYUS.

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.2.19n.

1 3421 68 I Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

7 SHEETSSHEET 3.

T. L. VALERlUS.

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.2,19H.

1,134,168, Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

'! SHEETS-SHEET ZZQMQK ZZZ Zar/W T. L. VALERIUS. BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG-2, 19:1.

7 SHEETSSHEET 5.

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Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

T. L. VALERIUS.

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE. APPucmm-l FILED AUG.2. 1912..

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

7 BEETS-SHEET 8 j v 7 J) W rill/dag v 7 14 0/. .7 Z 1 J @QQJQWQM I T. L. VALERIUS. BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.2. 19H.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7,

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

THEGEORE L. VALEEIUS, 0'5 FORT JETKZNSUE, WZSGQNSHL ASfiIGNQE T6 BREWER? EACKAGE MANUFACTURING COEiiI ANY, Q1? QEE'C'AGG, ZILLINGI3, A CQEFQEfi-TIDN 0F Application filed August 2, 1533..

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I. THEODORE L. VALE- mUs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Atkinson, in the county of Jefierson and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle-(lapping Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for automatically applying stopper disks or caps of the type now in common use to miik bottles While the latter are in cases.

Qne of the objects of the invention is to provide improved means for taking caps from the cap magazines and transferring them to the applying means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved cap-applying means which obviates the possibility of caps being pushed too far into the bottles.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide improved means for actuating the voarts of the machine.

objects and advaniages of the in- ..1 wiil he nointed out in the following Gil description.

.iile the gn-esent emholliznen' f die nrention is a hand-operated n1 j sl' old. he 11ml id that the invene-ro 7 he emhofils any iype of machine desired.

in the :u impinging drawings, Figure 1 is a side elei'aiion of a bottle capping machine embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2. is a front elevaiion of the machino. 'Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of showing the cap-transferring siigie in i forward position. Fig. isa clehail view or the cam for actuating the pars.

Fig. .3 is a plan *iew of the plunger-moving plate. Fig. (3 is a new showing the piaie for guiding the plnngers, the phingers -lvcs being shown in section. Fig. "i

'i-maal detail view showing the means the plunger-moving plate.

fragmental vertical section of ihe cap-applying plungers one. Fig. .3 isa fragsuhstantially in the and showing the conend of the plunger on with the remaining ....cition on line 10 i0 1. is a vertical sectional View of the cap-hol ling tubes and parts. 1'2 is en enlergefi Specification 0! Letters f'etenfi.

@aienhed. Apr. e, ie'is.

serial So. eeeoov.

together by cross-rods 21, and the upper portions thereof are spaced apart and secured together by the various shafts of the machine and the plate upon which the captrsnsferring slide moves. The bottle cases A having milk bottles a therein are carried upon a suitable support 22 fixed in the Erameirorl said supporthaving a pair of rails 23 thereon upon which the bottle case may he slidclen into and out of position for the bottles to be operated on by the capepplying mechanism.

Eiiiclabiyroonnted in a hearing 2% in the support 22 is .e vertical rod 25, to the upper enil of which is attached 2. suitable heed 26 it is moved upwardly to the cap-applying The head 26 normally lies in a plane beneath she hori 'al plane of the rails E0 she in of the rod 25 is fixed o cross-oar 2'? its encis slidebie in suitable snide she side castings I30. I: lever 2 forwarei' end attachec to cars 30 upon the crossbar 2?, is

i i l.

pi'voiaily moved oy means to rear enci of .id lever 29 is :1 arm 31 upon a shaft 32 which inc neeci in sheside costings 20. As will be seen, she arm 31 wiii swin topermit the form :6. end oi she lever 29 :0 more in a pisne.

amiing hehween and rigidly secures to the Side, castings 20 is a plate 33 (Fig. 3). we rear portion of which carries the cap magazines 3% and the forward portion of which has pmrality of openings therein in which are mounted sleeves 35 arranged to gzu G53 the cap-applying plungers 36 and the 1 bottles into operative relation. The plate 3- de flanges 37 which are secured to i 20 by editable screws or bolt-s 38.

ed so raise the bottle-case elea plum er guide-plate 39 the. latter being secured to and spaced frdm the plate 33 by 'means of bolts 40 and spacing sleev'es 41 surrounding said bolts.

The caps are transferred from the cap magazines 34 at the rear of the plate 33 into position to b e acted upon; by the plungers 36 by means of a slide-plate 42 which is slidable in guideways 43 uponthe plate33 (see Figs. 3 and 12). has a plurality of openings 44 thereinequal in number to the bottles in case A, each of said openings being in the form of a cross. In each of the projecting lugs 45 formed by the openings 44 is mounted a member, in this instancein the form of a screw 46, having a sharp point 47 at its lower end. The under side of the cap-slide 42 has a recess 48 beneath each of the openings 44, into which recesses the sharp points 47 pro ect. Meansis provided, as will hereinafter appear, for pressing the caps in the magazines 34 upwardly against the pins or pomts 47, said pins being of a length only suflicrent to enter the top ones of the caps.

' The cap applyln'g plungers 36 correspond innumber to the number of bottlesin the case A. Said plungers are carried by a plate '49.. (Figs. 5 and 7), having sleeves 50 which are slidably mounted upon guiderods 5l mounted in the upper portion of rthe side castings 20. Each of the plungers 36 comprises a stem 52 slidable in an opening 53 inthe plate 49 (Fig. 8) said stem having an enlargement 54 upon its upper end to limit its downward movement. The

lower. portion or head 55 of the plunger is cruciform in sectional view (see Fig. 6).

The' plungersi are normally 'heldin their lowermost v position with respect to the plate 47 by means of coiled springs 56 surrounding the stems 52 of the p1ungers. The plunger guide-plate 39 has a plurality of openings 57 therein in which the plungers 36 are guided, said openings corresponding in shapeto the cross-sectional shape of the plungerheads' 55, as shown in Fig. 6.

The sleeves- 35' are slidably mounted in .openings 58 in themain plate 33. The upper end of each sleeve has relatively deep notches 59 therein forming four fingers 60 which are arranged to pass through the four branches of the cruciform openings 44 in the capslide when the sleeves 35 are raised by the bottles a, as shown in Fig. 8. Each of the fingers 60 has a flange 61 adapted to seat in a recess 62 in the wall of the openings 58 in the plate 33 tocsupport the sleeve.

The-lower ends of the sleeves have bells or flaring months 63 attached thereto for the a purpose of,centering the bottles with'rela- ,tion to the sleeves.

After the cap-slide 42 has carried a set of caps into position above thesleeves 35,: as

Said plate upper ends of pins carry engagement with the sleeves, arid the' plungers 36 are, depressed-' by the plate 49 to remove the caps-from the slide '42ind carry them through the sleeves '35- and into.

the mouthsof the bottles. In order to insure thatthe 'caps will not be carriedtgq :lar into the bottles, shoulders 65 a re-formed on the lobes o-eaeh;o f the plunger heads 55 the portions of. the plungers below said shoulders being. adapted to .ifit; into the;

sleeves 35, and the portions above said ends of the sleeves, so thatthe plungers' can shoulders being of a larger size. The shofiI- i ders. 65 are arranged to engage the: upper ficient to" properly position a cap. upon a.,.

bottle, as shown in Fig. 8. Further lowering of the plunger-moving plate 49 is-permitted by relative movement between said plateand the plunger stems 52, such movement being resisted by the springs 56.

.In the rear portion ofthe main plate 33 is a series of openings 66 corresponding in number, to the number of 'plungers 36,"

Tubes 34 registering with each of the op'efimgs 66 have their upper ends fittingin, the

openings and. suitably held therein by means of nuts 67 threaded in the ends ofthe tubes and-seated in annular recesses 68 in the upper'face of the plate 33., (See Figs. 11 to 14). In' the tubes 34 are maintaineda suitable supply of caps 22. .The caps are supported upon a frame comprising bars 68 extending through slots 69 in the tubes 34, said bars having vertically slidable pins 70 mounted therein within the tubes 34. The heads .71 upon which the caps 6 rest. Said pins are normally pressed upwardly by means of coiled springs 72 surrounding the pins between the heads 71 and the bars 68. The frame 68 has a vertical screwshaft 73 threaded there:

in, the upper end of said shaft being guided in a tubular boss 74 on the'under side'of the, main plate 33. The lower end ofithe shaft 73 is slidably guided in across-bar 75 having its ends fixed to the side castings 20. As the supply of. caps b is gradually did;

minished by the cap-transferring"means, it

is necessary to raise the frame68 in the.

tubes 34. 'This raising may be accomplished by turning the screw-shaft 73. In the present embodiment I have provided means for conveniently rotating said shaft to raise the frame 68,said means comprising a sleeve 76 which is longitudinally slidable upon the screw-shaft 73, but is splined thereto'to prevent relative rotation of these parts (see 1 3,251.15 and 16),. At one end of the sleeve 76 is a ratchet wheel 77.' The sleeve 76' is rotatably mounted in a icrossshead 7 S which,

is arranged to'be raised by meansto be later described to press the caps upwardly against the cap-transferring slide 42; A nut 79 turned upon the end of the sleeve 7 6 holds said. sleeve in position in the cross-head 78. Nuts 80 threaded on the screw-shaft 73 at the. ends of the sleeve 76 cause the shaft '13 ,to follow the vertical movements of the lated by any suitable means not herein shown. The lower limit of'movement of by closures 8 upon the lower ends of the corner tubes 34.

W'hen the cross-head 78 is moved upwardly to elevate the cap raising frame 68, the top cap in each of the tubes 34 will be pressed up against the sharp points 47 so that when the frame (38 is lowered said top one of each tier of caps will be held by the cap-transferring slide.

The means for raising the hottle case and for depressing the plunger-s 36 comprises a pair of levers mounted on a rocli-shaft 86 which is mounted in the side castings 20, the rear end of said levers being connected by means of links 87 with-a cross-bar 88 which niay forni an integral part of the case-elevator lever 29. The forward ends of the levers are connected with the the plunger-moving plate 49 through the medium of links 89. The lower ends of said links may be mounted upon pins 90 which are inserted in openings 91 in the ends of the plate 19 before said plate is placed=in relation to the guide-rods 51 (see Fig. 7).

As hereinliefore stated, the present embodiment of my invention is arranged to be operated by hand. the operating means herein shown.comprising a shaft 92 rotatably mounted in the side castings '20 and having a cranlehandle 93 fixed thereon. A second shaft 9% is mounted in the side frames 20 rearwardly of the shaft 92 and the shafts and 94 are connected bymeans of a sprocket chain 97 running over the sprocket wheels 96 and 97 respectively. One rotationof the main shaft EH is arranged to move the parts of the machine through a complete cycle. In the present instance the crank-handle 9 3 is rotated three revolutions to one revolution of the main shaft, this construction requiring only a relatively small amount of. power to rotate the crank-handle I'pon the main shaft 94 is fixed a camwheel ha ing a cam portion 9.) arranged to he exteriorlv cngagvd and also having a (JZIIlhQl'OOYE 10') therein. (See Fig. 1.) lfpcn one of the pllnlger-operating levers 85 is an extension 101 (Fig. 1), carrying a roller which travels in the cam-groove 100. thus simultaneously operating the plungers 36 and the case-elevator 26. 111 the upper portion of the framework rotataloly mounted a shaft 102 having an arm 103 thereon which has a link 10% attached to its end, said link having a roller traveling in the cam-groove 100. An arm 105 fixed upon said shaft 102 is connected by means of an adjustable link 106 with the cap-- frame is sufiicient to hold the roller 112 m contact with the cam portion 99.

Assuming the machine to he in the initial position indicated in Fig. 1, the cap-slide 42 being in its forward position and being charged with a set of caps, the operation is as follows: The crank 93 is rotated in the direction of the arrow to rotate the main shaft 9% and the cam 98. The roller at the end of the extension 101 on the arm 85, in

following the cam-groove 100, simultaneously elevates the bottle-case A and depresses the plungers 3G totransfer the set of caps 71 from the cap-slide 42 to the mouths of the bottles (4. Continued rotation of the cam 98then lowers the bottle-case and raises the plunger-s. working movement, the cam roller is drawn inwardly toward the center of the cam, greater leverage being thus-obtained and the amount of power necessary to move the crank 93 being reduced. The arm 105 is now swung by the cam-groove to more the cap-slide to its rearinost position above the cap-tubes li. While the cap-slide is in this position the cam portion 99 swings the arm 111 to raise the capsupporting frame 68 and press a set of caps against the capslide. Said cap-slide is now again moved fmwvardl v.u'lien the parts will he in me initial position shown in Fig. 1, the crank 9-; having moved through three revolutions.

it. should he understood that the machine herein shown only one embodiment of my invention. wherefore no undue limitation should he taken from the foregoing detailed description.

I claim my invention:

1. In a bottle-capping machine, the coming means. and impaling points on said It will he noted that in its slide arranged to engage the end caps in said magazines and transfer saidcaps into position to be acted upon by said applying means;

2. In a bottle-capping machine, in combination, a plurality of cap magazines arranged vertically, said magazines having longitudinal slots therein, bars extending into said slots for supporting the caps therein, means for raising said bars to permit the top layer of caps to be removed, cap-applyingmeans, and means for transferring caps from said magazines to said applying means comprising a slide movable in ,a horizonta plane from a point adjacent to said magazines to a point adjacent said applyingmeans.

3. In a bottle-capping machine, in combination, a plurality of cap tubes arranged vertically, cap-applying means, and a slide movable in a horizontal plane from a point above said cap tubes to a point in operative relation to said applying means, said slide having sharp points thereon arranged to pick up the top series of caps in sald cap tubes.

4. In a bottle capping machine, in combination, a framework, a, horizontal plate stationarily mounted therein, a plurality of cap tubes supported from the rear portion of said plate, cap-applying means adjacent to theforward portion of said plate, and a cap transferring plate slidable upon the first mentioned plate, said cap-transferring plate having a plurality of sharp projections against which the caps in said cap tubes-are pushed at times, the caps being held by said projections and being transferred by said cap-plate from said captubes into position to be operated upon by said applying means. I

In a bottle-capping machine, in combination, meansfor supporting a case of bottles, cap-applying.plunger-s positioned above the casesupport'ing means, yielding means for holding a supply of caps, means for raising said caps, means for adjusting vertically saidv cap-holding means, and means horizontally movable between said plunger and said bottle case for transferring caps from said cap-holding means into position to be acted upon by said plungers.

' 6. In a bottle-capping machine, in combination, means for supporting a case of bottles, a plurality of cap-applying plunger-s .abovesaid case-supporting means, yielding means for holding a supply of caps, means for raising said caps, means for adjusting,

vertically said cap-holding means, a slide arranged to transfer caps from said holding means into-position to be acted upon by said pluugers, and means for simultaneously ra1smg said case-supporting means and depressing said plungcrs. 7. In a bottlecappmg machine,-the combination of a plurality of vertical cap-holding tubes, said tubes having longitudinal the tube for supporting said caps therein,

and means cally.

9. In "a bottle capper, a vertical tube adapted to contain a column of bottle caps, a slide horizontally reciprocable over the upper end of thetube, an impaling point on said slide, and means for raising the column of caps to press the topmost cap against said poin I 10. In a bottle-capping machine, means for supporting-a bottle, a plate having a cruciform opening therein, sharp points at the under side of said plate adjacent to said opening arranged to project into and support a cap, and a plunger cruciform in erosssection arranged to pass through said open ing and transfer the cap to the mouth of the bottle.

11. In a bottle-capping machine, in combination, a-framework, a horizontalplate for adjusting said frame vertipermit the top layer 7 "stationarily mounted therein, said plate havside adjacent to said openings, the leaps insaid cap tubes being pushed against said sharp points, said cap-transferring plate being movable to transfer a series of caps into position above said sleeves, and a plurality of plungers cruciform incross-section arranged to project through the openings in fsaid cap-transferring slide to push the caps from said slide and through said sleeves into the mouths of the bottles.

12. In a bottle-capping machine,'in combination, means for supporting a bottle, a

stationary plate having an opening therein, a sleeve supported by said plate and registering with said opening, said sleeve being arranged to vcenter the bottle, means for holding a series of caps, a slidable plate having a cruciform opening therein, and having sharp points at its under side adjacent and opening, said sharp points being adapted to receive a cap from said cap-holding means, the upper end of said sleeve being notched. to form a plurality of lingers adapted to enter the branches of said cruciform opening when said sleeve is lifted by the bottle, and a plunger crncil'crni in crosssection arranged to descend tl'lz'cugh the openingin'said sli lable plate to remove the cap therefrom and push the can through said sleeve and into the mouth of the bottle.

13. In a bottle .capper, a cantransferring member having a downwardly projecting cap-impaling point, said member having an aperture which is Vertically alined with a cap held by said point, and a member reciprocahle through said aperture for disengaging the cap from the point.

1%. In a hottlecapping machine, in mmhination. cap-applying; means, a cap magazine, a slide having a sharp point thereon, said slide being rncvahle from position adjacent to said cap magazine into pusiticn adjacent to saiilapplying means. and means for pressing the caps in .011 magazine against said point.

l5. lnahottle-capping machine, in cornbiziaticn, cap-applying means, a plurality of cap tuhes arranged vertically a herixontally slidable cap-transferring plate, a plurality of sharp points upon the under side of said plate arranged to register with the upper end of said can tubes, and means for press ing the caps in said tuhes against said sharp points whereby to charge the slide with a series 01 caps.

15. In a bottle-capping machine, in combination. means for supporting a case of bottles, a plurality of cap -applying plunger-s positioned ahm'e the casesupporting means, means for placing Caps in position to he acted upon by the plungers, and inc-ans for simultaneously raising said case supporting means and de 'ireesing said plungcrs, comprising levers attached to said case-supporting means and said plunger-s, a link cpnnecting said levers, a rotatory cam and an cxtension on one of said levers arranged to he engaged by said cam.

17. In a bottle-capping machine, in combination, means for supporting a case of hottles, a plurality of cap-applying plungers above the case-suppcrting means, means for placing caps in position to he acted upon hy said plungcrs, a lever for actuating said plungers and a rotary cam arranged to engage one end 0i said lever, said am drawing the lever clcser to the center of the cam during the working movement of the lever, whereby to increase the leverage of the cam.

18. In a bottle-capping machine, in combination, cap-applying means, a plurality of vertical cap tubes, said tubes having longitudinal slots therein, a cap-transtenlng slide arranged to remove the top caps from said tulies, a frame comprising bars extending through the slots in said tubes, yielding means carried by said hers within the tubes for supper-ting the caps therein, means for raising sairl frame to permit the top layer 01 caps to he removed, and means for adjnsh ing said frame vertically.

il In a bottle-capping machine, in combination, cap-applying means, a plurality of cap nmgazines, a cap-transferring slide, a lever for actuating said applying means, an arm for moving said slide, and a rotary cam for actuating said lever and said arm.

ii). In a bottle-capping machine, in combination, cap-applying means, a plurality of cap magizines, a cap-tmnsfcrring slide, an arm for moving said slide, a lever for actuating said applying means, a rotary'cam for operating said arm and said lever, and a hand crank fer rotating said cain, saidcrank moving a plurality 0t revolutiens for each revolution of said cam.

idl. ln a bottle-cupping machine in comliinutinn, cap-applying means. a plurality of cap magazines. :1 caplransferring slide, an frame tor supportiiiig the caps in said maga- Zines, a lever for in ing said frame,.an arm fer wiring said s ile, lever for open atinfz said capmpplying means, and a 1'0- tary cam arranged to actuate said arm and said lel'ei's.

in a bottle-capping machine, a cap transferring member having cap-attaching means. and means for vertically moving a tier of (taps into and away from eperative relation to said cap-attaching means.

23. In a bottle-capping machine, a cantrunsferring member having a downwardly extending cap-impaling point, and means for raising a tier of cans to press the top cap against said point and for lowering the rcn'minder of the tier.

24-. In a bottle capper, a can-transferring member having 1, downwardly projecting ci'ip-inipalintr point. said member having an aperture which is vertically alined with a cap held by erri l nointyand a cap-applying member recipmcahlc through said aperture for disengaging (he can from the point.

In a bottle-capping machine, a stationary crtical cap magazine, cap-removing means ahnve said imigazine, and means for raising caps in said iii-agazinc so that the top cap will he in operative relation to said capremoving means and for lowering the remainder of the cans.

'26. In a bottle-capping machine, a stationary vertical cap magazine, cap removing means above said magazine, leans for raising cans in said magazineso that the top cap will he in opera ive relation to said cap re moving means and for-lowering the remainder of the caps, and means for adjusting the raising means to compensate for variations in thequantity of caps in the magazine. v

27. In a bottle-capping machine, a stationary vertical cap magazine, cap-removing means above said magazine, a cap-support in said magazine, means-for raising and lowering said support to move the caps contained in the magazine into and out of operative relation to the cap-removing means, and means for adjusting said raising and lower ing means to compensate for-variations in the quantity of caps in the magazine.

28. In a bottle-capping machine, acap magazine, cap-removing means above said v v openin s magazlne, a cap-support in said magazine, means for raising and lowering said support, said raising and lowering means comprising a vertical screw shaft carrying said support, and means for rotating said shaft I to adjust the position of said support with reference to the raising and lowering means. 29. In a machine for cappingcased bottles, a cap-transferring member having as many cap-receiving surfaces as there are bottles 1n the ,case, each of said surfaces having an opening therethrough and a cap-attaching means, a corresponding number of capseating plungers reciprocable through said a corresponding number of cap magazines below the plane of said member, the latter being reciprocable from a position above the magazines to a position below the plungers, and means for lifting caps in the magazines into contact with the cap-attaching means.

30. ,In a bottle capper, downwardly projecting cap-impaling point, said member having an aperture which is vertically alined with a cap held by said point, a bell-mouthed member below the firstmentionecl member adapted for contact with a member having a a bottle, and a cap app1ying plunger reciprocable through said aperture for disengaging the cap from the cap in the bottle.

31. In a bottle 'capper, a cap-transferring slide having a downwardly projecting capimpaling point and an aperture which is-vertically alined with a cap held by said point, an element below said slide, a bottle-centering sleeve supported by said element and point and seating said vertically movable through the aperture inv I said slide, meansfor moving a bottle against the lower end of the sleeve and raising the latter, and a cap-applying plunger reciprocable through said aperture and said sleeve to move the cap through the sleeve and into the mouth of the bottle.

In testimony whereof I hereby aliix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' THEODORE L. VALERIUS;

Witnesses:

J. F. SCHREINER,

' v R. J. SMITH, 

